Numbers 30:2 If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised.

◄ Numbers 30:2 ►

New International Version
When a man makes a vow to the LORD or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.

New Living Translation
A man who makes a vow to the LORD or makes a pledge under oath must never break it. He must do exactly what he said he would do.

English Standard Version
If a man vows a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

Berean Standard Bible
If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised.

King James Bible
If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

New King James Version
If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

New American Standard Bible
If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or takes an oath to put himself under a binding obligation, he shall not break his word; he shall act in accordance with everything that comes out of his mouth.

NASB 1995
“If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or takes an oath to bind himself with a binding obligation, he shall not violate his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

NASB 1977
“If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or takes an oath to bind himself with a binding obligation, he shall not violate his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

Legacy Standard Bible
If a man makes a vow to Yahweh or swears an oath to bind himself with a binding obligation, he shall not violate his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

Amplified Bible
If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to bind himself with a pledge [of abstinence], he shall not break (violate, profane) his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

Christian Standard Bible
When a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to put himself under an obligation, he must not break his word; he must do whatever he has promised.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to put himself under an obligation, he must not break his word; he must do whatever he has promised.”

American Standard Version
When a man voweth a vow unto Jehovah, or sweareth an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

Contemporary English Version
When one of you men makes a promise to the LORD, you must keep your word.

English Revised Version
When a man voweth a vow unto the LORD, or sweareth an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If a man makes a vow to the LORD that he will do something or swears an oath that he won't do something, he must not break his word. He must do everything he said he would do.

Good News Translation
When a man makes a vow to give something to the LORD or takes an oath to abstain from something, he must not break his promise, but must do everything that he said he would.

International Standard Version
When a man makes a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath—an obligation that is binding to himself—he is not to break his word. Instead, he is to fulfill whatever promise came out of his mouth.'"

Majority Standard Bible
If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised.

NET Bible
If a man makes a vow to the LORD or takes an oath of binding obligation on himself, he must not break his word, but must do whatever he has promised.

New Heart English Bible
When a man vows a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

Webster's Bible Translation
If a man shall vow a vow to the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

World English Bible
When a man vows a vow to Yahweh, or swears an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
When a man vows a vow to YHWH, or has sworn an oath to bind a bond on his soul, he does not defile his word; he does according to all that is going out from his mouth.

Young's Literal Translation
'When a man voweth a vow to Jehovah, or hath sworn an oath to bind a bond on his soul, he doth not pollute his word; according to all that is going out from his mouth he doth.

Smith's Literal Translation
A man when he shall vow a vow to Jehovah, or swear an oath to bind a binding upon his soul, he shall not profane his word; according to all going forth from his mouth he shall do.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
If any man make a vow to the Lord, or bind himself by an oath: he shall not make his word void but shall fulfil all that he promised.

Catholic Public Domain Version
If any man makes a vow to the Lord, or binds himself by an oath, he shall not make his word null and void, but all that he has promised, he shall fulfill.

New American Bible
When a man makes a vow to the LORD or binds himself under oath to a pledge, he shall not violate his word, but must fulfill exactly the promise he has uttered.

New Revised Standard Version
When a man makes a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
When a man vows a vow to the LORD and swears an oath to bind himself by a bond, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
‘When a man will vow a vow to LORD JEHOVAH and will swear in an oath and will bind a bond on himself, he shall not violate his word; everything that proceeds from his mouth he shall do.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
When a man voweth a vow unto the LORD, or sweareth an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Whatsoever man shall vow a vow to the Lord, or swear an oath, or bind himself with an obligation upon his soul, he shall not break his word; all that shall come out of his mouth he shall do.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Laws Concerning Vows
1Then Moses said to the heads of the tribes of Israel, “This is what the LORD has commanded: 2If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised. 3And if a woman in her father’s house during her youth makes a vow to the LORD or obligates herself by a pledge,…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Deuteronomy 23:21-23
If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to keep it, because He will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin. / But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty of sin. / Be careful to follow through on what comes from your lips, because you have freely vowed to the LORD your God with your own mouth.

Ecclesiastes 5:4-5
When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow. / It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.

Matthew 5:33-37
Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ / But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; / or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ...

James 5:12
Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.

Psalm 15:4
who despises the vile but honors those who fear the LORD, who does not revise a costly oath,

Judges 11:30-31
Jephthah made this vow to the LORD: “If indeed You will deliver the Ammonites into my hand, / then whatever comes out the door of my house to greet me on my triumphant return from the Ammonites will belong to the LORD, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”

Judges 11:35-36
As soon as Jephthah saw her, he tore his clothes and said, “No! Not my daughter! You have brought me to my knees! You have brought great misery upon me, for I have given my word to the LORD and cannot take it back.” / “My father,” she replied, “you have given your word to the LORD. Do to me as you have said, for the LORD has avenged you of your enemies, the Ammonites.”

Leviticus 27:2
“Speak to the Israelites and say to them, ‘When someone makes a special vow to the LORD involving the value of persons,

Psalm 50:14
Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and fulfill your vows to the Most High.

Psalm 76:11
Make and fulfill your vows to the LORD your God; let all the neighboring lands bring tribute to Him who is to be feared.

Proverbs 20:25
It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows.

Genesis 28:20-22
Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and watch over me on this journey, and if He will provide me with food to eat and clothes to wear, / so that I may return safely to my father’s house, then the LORD will be my God. / And this stone I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give You a tenth.”

1 Samuel 1:11
And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.”

1 Samuel 1:21
Then Elkanah and all his house went up to make the annual sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vow,

Jonah 2:9
But I, with the voice of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to You. I will fulfill what I have vowed. Salvation is from the LORD!”

Treasury of Scripture

If a man vow a vow to the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

if a man.

Numbers 21:2
And Israel vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.

Genesis 28:20-22
And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, …

Leviticus 27:2
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When a man shall make a singular vow, the persons shall be for the LORD by thy estimation.

swear

Exodus 20:7
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Leviticus 5:4
Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these.

Matthew 5:33,34
Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: …

to bind

Numbers 30:3,4,10
If a woman also vow a vow unto the LORD, and bind herself by a bond, being in her father's house in her youth; …

Matthew 23:16,18
Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! …

Acts 23:12,14,21
And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul…

break.

Psalm 55:20
He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.

he shall do

Job 22:27
Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.

Psalm 22:25
My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.

Psalm 50:14
Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:

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Numbers 30

1. Vows are not to be broken
3. The exceptions of a maid's vows
6. Of a wife's
9. Of a widow's or her that is divorced

Berean Study Bible

If a man makes a vow to the LORD
The phrase "If a man makes a vow to the LORD" introduces the concept of a vow, which in Hebrew is "נֶדֶר" (neder). Vows were solemn promises made to God, often in the context of seeking divine favor or expressing gratitude. In ancient Israel, vows were taken seriously as they were direct commitments to God. The historical context shows that vows were common in the ancient Near East, and breaking them was considered a grave offense. This phrase underscores the personal responsibility and the sacred nature of making commitments to God.

or swears an oath
The term "swears an oath" refers to a formal declaration or promise, often invoking God's name as a witness. The Hebrew word for oath is "שְׁבוּעָה" (shevu'ah). Oaths were binding and carried significant weight, as they were seen as unbreakable promises. In the biblical context, swearing an oath was a way to affirm truthfulness and integrity. The use of oaths is seen throughout Scripture, emphasizing the importance of honesty and the fear of the Lord in one's speech.

to bind himself with a pledge
The phrase "to bind himself with a pledge" indicates a self-imposed obligation. The Hebrew root "אָסַר" (asar) means to bind or tie, suggesting a strong commitment. In the cultural and historical context, pledges were often made in the context of agreements or covenants, and they were expected to be fulfilled. This highlights the seriousness with which personal commitments were regarded in biblical times, reflecting a culture that valued honor and accountability.

he must not break his word
The command "he must not break his word" emphasizes the inviolability of one's promises. The Hebrew word for "break" is "חָלַל" (chalal), which can also mean to profane or defile. This suggests that breaking a vow is not just a failure to keep a promise but a desecration of something sacred. The biblical narrative consistently upholds the importance of truthfulness and reliability, reflecting God's own faithfulness to His word.

he must do everything he has promised
Finally, "he must do everything he has promised" reinforces the expectation of complete fulfillment of one's vows. The Hebrew word "עָשָׂה" (asah) means to do or make, indicating action and completion. This phrase calls for integrity and faithfulness, mirroring God's character. In the broader scriptural context, fulfilling promises is a reflection of one's relationship with God, as it demonstrates obedience and reverence for His commandments.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 2. - If a man vow a vow. נֶדֶר, a vow, is commonly said to be distinctively a positive vow, a promise to render something unto the Lord. This, however, cannot be strictly maintained, because the Nazarite vow was neder, and that was essentially a vow of abstinence. To say that the vow of the Nazarite was of a positive character because he had to let his hair grow "unto the Lord" is a mere evasion. It is, however, probable that neder, when it occurs (as in this passage) in connection with issar, does take on the narrower signification of a positive vow. Swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond. Literally, "to bind a bond upon his soul." אִסָּר, a bond, which occurs only in this chapter, is considered to be a restrictive obligation, a vow of abstinence. It would appear that the issar was always undertaken upon oath, whereas the neder (as in the case of the Nazarite) did not of necessity require it. He shall not break his word. This was the general principle with respect to vows, and, as here ]aid down, it was in accordance with the universal religious feeling of mankind. Whatever crimes may have claimed the sanction of this sentiment, whatever exceptions and safeguards a clearer revelation and a better knowledge of God may have established, yet the principle remained that whatsoever a man had promised unto the Lord, that he must fulfill. Iphigenia in Aulis, Jephthah's daughter in Gilead, proclaim to what horrid extremities any one religious principle, unchecked by other coordinate principles, may lead; but they also proclaim how deep and true this religious principle must have been which could so over-ride the natural feelings of men not cruel nor depraved.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

If
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

a man
אִישׁ֩ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

makes
יִדֹּ֨ר (yid·dōr)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5087: To promise

a vow
נֶ֜דֶר (ne·ḏer)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5088: A promise, a thing promised

to the LORD
לַֽיהוָ֗ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

or
אֽוֹ־ (’ōw-)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

swears
הִשָּׁ֤בַע (hiš·šā·ḇa‘)
Verb - Nifal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 7650: To seven oneself, swear

an oath
שְׁבֻעָה֙ (šə·ḇu·‘āh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7621: Something sworn, an oath

to obligate
לֶאְסֹ֤ר (le’·sōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 631: To yoke, hitch, to fasten, to join battle

himself
נַפְשׁ֔וֹ (nap̄·šōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

by a pledge,
אִסָּר֙ (’is·sār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 632: A bond, binding obligation

he must not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

break
יַחֵ֖ל (ya·ḥêl)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2490: To bore, to wound, to dissolve, to profane, to break, to begin, to play

his word;
דְּבָר֑וֹ (də·ḇā·rōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

he must do
יַעֲשֶֽׂה׃ (ya·‘ă·śeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

everything
כְּכָל־ (kə·ḵāl-)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

he has promised.
הַיֹּצֵ֥א (hay·yō·ṣê)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

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OT Law: Numbers 30:2 When a man vows a vow (Nu Num.)